Loop Prominences and Coronal Condensations. II. The Source of Mass and Energy and a Model of the Loop Prominence Mechanism.

Estimates of the mass and energy requirements of loop prominences indicate difficulties in the generally accepted "condensation process." An alternative process is considered in which super thermal particles drift or are injected into the magnetic field of the loop. It is found that all the mass required to maintain a loop (or quiescent) prominence can be supplied in the form of particles moving at tO cm/sec and that their energy will then just balance that lost by radiation Since it is now known that loop prominences are associated with those flares that produce copious amounts of fast plasma, it is suggested that the loops arise naturally as a coronal configuration by which this flare plasma is returned to the chromosphere The mass and energy required to feed the loop are provided by the injection into the system of fast particles of this plasma. The applicability of this mechanism to other types of prominences is discussed.